{"product_id":"how-democracies-live-stein-ringen-9780226818870","title":"How Democracies Live: Power, Statecraft, and Freedom in Modern Societies","description":"\u003cb\u003eTimes have not been kind to democracy. This book is in its defense.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In the new century, the triumph of democracy at the end of the Cold War turned to retrenchment. The core democracies, in America and Britain, succumbed to polarization and misrule. Dictatorships, such as China, made themselves assertive. New democracies in Central Europe turned to muddled ideologies of \"illiberal democracy.\" In this book, Stein Ringen offers a meditation on what democracy is, the challenges it faces, and how it can be defended. Ringen argues that democracy must be rooted in a culture that supports the ability of citizens to exchange views and information among themselves and with their rulers. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Drawing on the ideas of Machiavelli, Aristotle, Tocqueville, Max Weber, and others, Ringen shows how power is the fuel of government, and statecraft turns power into effective rule. Democracy should prize freedom and minimizing unfairness, especially poverty. Altogether, Ringen offers powerful insight on the meaning of democracy, including a new definition, and how countries can improve upon it and make it function more effectively. Timely and thought-provoking, \u003ci\u003eHow Democracies Live\u003c\/i\u003e is a sober reminder of the majesty of the democratic enterprise.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Stein Ringen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 022681887X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780226818870\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Chicago Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/13\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 216\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.11lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.69d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 02\/01\/2023","brand":"Stein Ringen","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44056658968831,"sku":"9780226818870","price":105.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_61c68109-2e2b-4823-ada2-50ed705b0c4f.jpg?v=1685042550","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/how-democracies-live-stein-ringen-9780226818870","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}